This straightforward 65.5-mile drive from Des Moines to Albia, Iowa, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking around 1 hour and 30 minutes. The route primarily utilizes IA 5, with a portion on Southeast 14th Street and the Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway. With an estimated fuel cost of just $10, this is an economical journey through the Midwest. The drive-focused profile suggests a direct path, making it ideal for those looking for an efficient transit between these two Iowa locations without needing an overnight stop.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
32.7 miles from Des Moines, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 44m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
IA 5
55.2 mi
1h 12m
Southeast 14th Street
2.4 mi
4m
Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
2.2 mi
2m
Southeast 6th Street
1.8 mi
3m
Southridge Boulevard
1.6 mi
2m
East 6th Street
0.9 mi
1m
Indianola Avenue
0.7 mi
1m
East University Avenue
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
IA 5
— 55.2 mi, about 1h 12m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Des Moines, IA and Albia, IA.
1
Start on East University Avenue
481 ft·39 sec·East University Avenue
2
Turn uturn onto East University Avenue
0.1 mi·18 sec·East University Avenue
3
Turn right onto Pennsylvania Avenue
0.2 mi·17 sec·Pennsylvania Avenue
4
Continue on East 6th Street
0.9 mi·1 min·East 6th Street
5
Continue on Southeast 6th Street
1.8 mi·3 min·Southeast 6th Street
6
Turn left onto Indianola Avenue
0.7 mi·1 min·Indianola Avenue
7
Turn slight right onto US 69
2.4 mi·4 min·Southeast 14th Street
8
Continue on US 69
1.6 mi·2 min·Southridge Boulevard
9
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·41 sec
10
Merge onto IA 5
2.2 mi·2 min·Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
11
Take the exit onto IA 5
19 mi·22 min·IA 5
Toward IA 5 South: Carlisle
12
Turn left onto IA 5; IA 92
11 mi·11 min·IA 5; IA 92
13
Take the exit onto IA 5
0.5 mi·1 min·IA 5
14
Turn right onto IA 5
25 mi·37 min·IA 5
15
Turn left onto CR H35
356 ft·9 sec·Benton Avenue East
16
Turn right onto South 2nd Street
170 ft·12 sec·South 2nd Street
17
Turn left
31 ft·2 sec
18
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the short 1 hour and 30-minute duration, this route offers great flexibility; you can depart Des Moines at your leisure. With only $10 in estimated fuel costs, you won't need to worry much about frequent refueling. The longest stretch without a significant change in road is 55.2 miles, so plan for a single stretch of driving before considering a brief stop if needed. Keep an eye on signage for transitions between IA 5 and Southeast 14th Street to ensure you're on the correct path towards Albia.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 32.7 miles from Des Moines, IA, or about 44m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 55.2 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 14 miles or 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 32.7 miles or 44m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 15m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Albia, IA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Des Moines, IA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Des Moines, IA
This is one driving day of about 65.5 miles and 1h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 14 miles from Des Moines, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on IA 5 for about 55.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 65.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|East University Avenue
Turn uturn onto East University Avenue
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
5
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|Pennsylvania Avenue
Turn right onto Pennsylvania Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
3 mi into trip|~6m in|Indianola Avenue
Turn left onto Indianola Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
10.2 mi into trip|~17m in|IA 5
Take the exit onto IA 5 toward IA 5 South: Carlisle
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward IA 5 South: Carlisle
5
65.4 mi into trip|~1h 30m in|South 2nd Street
Turn right onto South 2nd Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.24 one way
$20.48 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg23 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$11.24
$22.49
premium
$4.89
$12.60
$25.21
diesel
$5.61
$14.46
$28.92
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$10
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$35–$60
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 22.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
19.7
0
$6.88
$3.14
Efficient EV
16.4
0
$5.73
$2.62
EV Truck/SUV
26.2
0
$9.17
$4.19
Gas CO2
23 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (65% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Des Moines, IA
Late night
in Des Moines on Sunday
Local time
5:01 AM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Albia, IA
Late night
in Albia on Sunday
Local time
5:01 AM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
69°F
Altoona, IA
33 mi in
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 30m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience on this trip, with 84% of the journey taking place on main roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch covers 55.2 miles on IA 5, offering a consistent pace for much of the drive. This route is designed for efficient travel, meaning you'll likely encounter a more direct and less winding path, allowing for steady progress towards your destination. While not explicitly scenic, the highway focus implies a clear, well-maintained road designed for comfortable driving.
84% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 55.2 mi on IA 5.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on IA 5 and Southeast 14th Street. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near East University Avenue.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 30m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (East University Avenue): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 0.2 miles (Pennsylvania Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 3 miles (Indianola Avenue): Navigation decision point.
Des Moines, capital of Iowa, is in the western region of the American Midwest. Des Moines is the largest city in Iowa and the annual site of the Iowa State Fair and numerous cultural festivals during warm weather months. History enthusiasts will find 110 historic sites in and around the city as part of the Silos and Smokestacks National Heritage Area. The city appeals to travelers with an interest in the arts who marvel at the architecture of the State Capitol with its five domes, including the large main dome with its gleaming 23-karat gold surface. The city has a good art museum, a symphony that performs in the downtown Civic Center (along with opera, ballet, and other performing arts), and a big annual arts festival that draws visitors from across Iowa and beyond.
The longest stretch is about 55.2 miles on IA 5. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (East University Avenue): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 0.2 miles (Pennsylvania Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 3 miles (Indianola Avenue): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Albia, IA before heading back.
